Apparatus for feeding powdered material



y 1949- H. G. HUGHEY 2,470,819

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING POWDERED MATERIAL Filed Dec. 20, 1946 2 Sheecs-Sheet l INVENTOR HOWARD G. HUGHEV ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR FEEDING POWDERED MATERIAL Filed Dec. 20, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -|NVENTOR 1 BY HOWARD a. HUGHfY (540%, Z 2 wfiww ATTQRNEYJ.

Patented May 24, 1949 APPARATUS FOR FEEDINGQPVOWDERED MATERIAL I Howard G. H ughey, Fanwood, N. J., assignor to Air Reduction Company, Incorporated, a. corporation of New York Application December 20, 1946, Serial No. 717,554

' Claims. (Cl. 302-53) This invention relates to apparatus for feeding the rate at which the flux is introduced into the oxygen depends to a large extent on the rate of flow of the oxygen through the aspirator, and hence the more oxygen used in the cutting or other thermo-chemical operation the more flux there will be in the oxygen. But this is not always desirable. For instance, in the cutting of stainless steel the oxygen requirements increase more rapidly than the fiux requirements as increasingly greater thicknesses of metal are cut, and therefore if the amount of flux present in the oxygen depends to a large extent on the amount of oxygen used, the flux is likely to be over-abundant as greater amounts of oxygen are used for cutting thicker work. It is therefore desirable that a flux feeder which works partly or wholly on the aspirator principle be provided with means by which the flux content in the oxygen can be readily adjusted, and the principal object of this invention is to provide such a flux feeder.

According to the invention a flux feeder, in which flux powder is introduced into an oxygen stream so that the amount of flux carried along by the oxygen stream is dependent to a substantial extent on theamount of oxygen flowing past I the flux delivery point, is provided with a valvecontrolled oxygen by-pass whereby all of the oxygen on its way to the cutting torch or other place of consumption can be made to pass by the flux delivery point and aspirate the flux powder, or any desired amount of it can be directed to the flux delivery point and the remainder bypassed around it. By properly adjusting the bypass valve or valves the flux content in the oxygen at the place of consumption can be readily regulated, valve-adjustment that Icy-passes more oxygen serving to decrease the amount of fiux in the oxygen at the place of consumption and valve-adjustment that by-passes less of the oxygen serving to increase the amount of flux in the oxygen at the place of consumption.

A flux feeeder embodying the invention is 11- 2 lustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the flux feeder in gartizal vertical section taken on the line I-l o! Fig. 2 is a plan view of the flux feeder; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showingtheinterior of the by-pass valve block.

Referring to Fig. 1 the flux feeder shown therein comprises a base 9 on which a flux container I0 is supported. A shaft ll having a universal joint 12 is supported in a bearing l3 and rotated by an electric motor l4 through speed reducing gearing l5. The shaft ll extends through a portion of a block I 6, forming the bottom member of the flux container l0, and through stuffing boxes H. The end of the shaft is connected to one end of a spiral conveyor or feed screw [8. The other end of the feed screw abuts against a bearing pin l9 which receives the endwise thrust of the shaft and feed screw. The feed screw l8 rotates ina bore 20 in the block I6 having communication with the interior 2| of the flux container l0 through an opening 22 in the block. The extension of the bore 20 beyond the end of the feed screw l8 forms an aspiration chamber 23. A cyl inder 24 rigidly secured at its lower'end to the block it forms the side walls of the flux contain er. At its upper end the cylinder 24 is closed by a cover plate 25 secured to a flange 26 on the cylinder by bolts 21. A gasket 28 is inserted between the plate 25 and the flange on the cylinder. A removable closure plate 29 for an opening in the cover plate 25 is held tightly closed by a clamping lever 30. The flux container thus rendered gastight contains a supply of powdered flux that passes down through the opening 22 in the bottom block I6 into the bore 20 in the block.

An agitator 3| comprising a vertical'shaft 32 and radially extending arms 33 is located in the cylinder 24 and rotates during operation ofthe flux feeder to prevent the flux from becoming too tightly packed or from arching over the opening 22. The agitator is rotated by a worm 34 which meshes with a worm wheel 35 secured to the shaft 32. The worm 34 is on a shaft 36 driven from the shaft I I through gears 31 and 38. Rotation of the driving shaft I l is thus transmitted to the shaft 36 through the meshing gears 31 and 38 and through the worm 34 and worm wheel 35 to the agitator 3|. The agitator gear mechanism is housed in a chamber 39 in the block l6 which is the closed by a removable bottom plate 40 on under side of the block.

The electric motor I4 is connected in any suitable way to a power line as by means of a plug 4| (Fig. 2). A conductor 42 leads from the plug to a switch and terminal box 43 which houses a control switch to which the conductor 42 is connected. The control switch is operated by a handle 44 located exteriorly of the box 43. A conductor 45 connected to the control switch in the box 43 leads to the electric motor. Another conductor 45 leads from the box 43 to a solenoid valve 46 the function of which will hereinafter appear. Closing of the control switch by actuating the handle 44 energizes the solenoid valve 46 and the motor l4 simultaneously. A knob 41 on a centrifugal speed control governor 43 associated with the electric motor permits adjustment of the governor and regulation of the speed of the motor.

Located externally of the flux container (Fig. 2) is a valve block 49 which communicates with passages in the bottom block l6 of the flux con tainer bymeans of tubes 50 and Referring to Fig. 3, the valve block 49 preferably has two bypass control valves 52 and 53 and a system of intercommunicating passages which are adapted to afford control of the amount of flux in the oxygen at the place of consumption, as will be more fully described. The valve block 49 has an inlet connection 54 to which cutting oxygen flows from the solenoid valve 46 (Fig. 2) through a tube 55. Oxygen supplied to the solenoid valve 46 through a fitting 56 and delivered to the valve block 49 is normally shut off by the valve elements 51 and 58 (Fig. 3) of the valves 52 and 53 respectively. The valve element 51 is retracted by turning the handle 59 to permit the oxygen to pass into a passage 60 and thence to the bottom block 16 of the flux container through the tube 50 (Fig. 2). When the valve element 58 is closed all of the oxygen supply released by the valve element 51 flows through the tube 50 and enters a passage 6! in the bottom block [6 of the flux container. From the passage 6| the oxygen flows to a connecting passage 62 in the block [6 which delivers it to the aspiration chamber 23. A passage 63, which is in eil'ect a continuation of the passage 62, conducts the oxygen leaving the aspiration chamber to the tube 5| which conducts it back to passage 64 (Fig. 3) in the valve block 49. A by-pass passage 65 in the valve block 49 extends from the inlet connection 54 to the passage 64. Oxygen entering the passage 64 is discharged directly to the line connections through the fitting 66 (Fig. 2). The valve element 58 controls communication between the by-pass passage 65 and the passage 64.

No oxygen can flow to the line connections if both valves 52 and 53 are closed. Opening of the valve 52 alone permits all of the oxygen to passthrough the aspiration chamber 23 to the discharge passage 64, and opening of the valve 53 alone permits all of the oxygen to flow through the by-pass passage 65 to the discharge passage 64. By properly adjusting the two valves 52 and 53 it is evident that any desired proportion of the incoming oxygen can be passed through the aspiration chamber 23 and any desired proportion can be diverted through the by-pass passage 65 to the discharge passage 64. As will now be described, this permits the quantity of flux content in the oxygen at the point of consumption to be regulated and precisely controlled.

The flux feeder is set in operation by snapping the switch handle 44 (Fig. 2) to its "on position, i. e., the position in which the control switch in the box 43 is closed, thus simultaneously energizing the motor f4 and the solenoid valve 48. Oxygen flowing through the tube 55 from the solenoid valve 46 is divided according to the setting of the two valves 52 and 53, part of the total supply being diverted through the aspiration chamber 23 and the remainder through the bypass passage 65 in the valve block 49.

Powdered flux fed into the bore 26 through the opening 22 in the bottom block l6 of the flux container (Fig. 1) is pushed forward in the bore by the feed screw l6 to the aspiration chamber 23 where it becomes aspirated by the oxygen passing through the chamber. The oxygen and entrained flux particles are conducted to the discharge passage 64 in the valve block 49 where the remainder of the oxygen diverted through the by-pass passage 65 and past the retracted valve element 58 combines with the flux-containing portion of the oxygen stream. The reunited oxygen stream and the entrained flux are discharged to the cutting torch or other piece of apparatus at the place of consumption through tubing or a hose attached to the valve block at the fitting 66.

A tube 61 communicates with the passage 62 in the bottom block I6 of the flux container just ahead of the aspiration chamber 23 (Fig. 2) and rises in the interior of the flux container to a point where it can discharge oxygen above the level of the reserve flux in the container indicated at 68. The tube 6! permits some of the oxygen to be conducted from the passage 62 in the bottom block [6 to the space above the level of the flux in the container and effects an equalization of the pressure in the space and the pressure in the passage 62. The oxygen delivered to the space above the level of the flux in the container filters through the agitated flux into the bore 20 and subsequently into the aspiration chamber 23. In filtering through the flux in this manner the oxygen gives a swirling motion to the flux in the bore 20 and keeps it in a flufiy or fluent condition which enables greater quantities of the flux to be delivered to and entrained by the oxygen stream passing through the aspiration chamber 23. The tube 61 therefore improves or enhances the aspirating eil'ect that the oxygen has on the flux powder. The provision of the tube 61' also prevents the flux from being forced backward into the bore 20 and thus becoming clogged in the bore.

It will now be seen that the amount of flux added to the oxygen is largely dependent upon the aspirating effect of the oxygen passing through the aspiration chamber 23, and only to a minor extent on the speed of rotation of the feed screw II. The valve-controlled oxygen by-pass therefore makes possible a wider range in the regulation of the flux content in the oxygen at the place of consumption than could be achieved by varying the speed of rotation of the feed screw l6. Although the speed of rotation of the feed screw l8 determines to some extent the rate at which the flux is fed into and picked up by the oxygen stream, the greater influence is the aspirating effect of the oxygen.

While the apparatus herein described was intended primarily for feeding powdered flux into the oxygen stream in thermo-chemical cutting or scarfing operations on iron or steel, it may be used if desired for feeding any powdered material into any gas stream.

I claim: 1 1 1. Apparatus for feeding powdered material into a gas stream comprising a hopper for the powdered material, means forming as aspiration chamber, means {or feeding powdered material from the hopper to the ispiration chamber, a

gas outlet conduit leading from the aspiration chamber and including a second passage extending through another portion of the valve block, the valve block having a by-pass connecting said first and second block passages, and a valve associated with the valve block having a valve element at the juncture of said first block passage and the by-pass adapted to regulate the amount of gas that fiows through said first block passage to the aspiration chamber and the amount that flows through the by-pass to said second block passage.

2. Apparatus for feeding powdered material intoa gas stream comprising a hopper for the powdered material, means forming an aspiration chamber, means for feeding powdered material from the hopper to the aspiration chamber, a valve block, a gas inlet conduit leadin to the aspiration chamber and comprising a tube section leading to the valve block and a tube section leading from the valve block toward the aspiration chamber and'a passage in the valve block adapted to place said tube sections in communication, 2. -gas.outlet conduit leading from the aspiration chamber and comprising a tube section connected to the valve block and a gas inoutlet connection on the valve block and a second passage in the valve block-placing said lastnamed tube section in communication with said outlet connection, the valve block further having a by-pass connecting said first and second block passages, and a valve associated with said valve block having a valve element at the juncture of said first block passage and the by-pass adapted to regulate the amount of gas that fiows through said first block passage to the aspiration chamber and the amount that fiows through the bypass to said second block passage.

3. Apparatus for feeding powdered material into a gas stream comprising a hopper for the powdered material, means forming an aspiration chamber, means for feeding powdered material from the hopper to the aspiration chamber, a valve block, a gas inlet conduit leading to the aspiration chamber and including a passage extending through a portion ofthe valve block, a gas outlet conduit leading from the aspiration chamber and including a-second passage extending through another portion of the valve block, the valve block having a by-pass connecting said first and second block passages, a valve associated with said block having a valve element at the 'juncture of said first block passage and the bypass, and a second valve associated with said block having a valve element controlling communication between the by-pass and the second block passage, said valve elements being adjustable to regulate the amount of gas that flows through said first block passage to the aspiration chamber and the amount that flows through the by-pass and into said second block'passage.

4. Apparatus for feeding powdered material into a gas stream comprising a hopper for the powdered material, means forming an aspiration chamber, a gas inlet conduit leading to the 8-Sepiration chamber, a gas outlet conduit leadin from the aspiration chamber, a feed screw arranged to receive powdered material from the hopper and to feed it into said aspiration chamber for entrainment by the gas passing from said inlet conduit to said outlet conduit through the aspiration chamber, a by-pass connecting said gas inlet conduit with said gas outlet conduit, and valve means controlling the by-pass and operable to cause any desired proportion of the gas to pass through the aspiration chamber and entrain powdered material and the remainder to be diverted through the by-pass and mix with the powder-containing portion of the gas leaving the aspiration chamber.

5. Apparatus for feeding powdered material into a gas stream comprising a hopper for the powdered material, means forming an aspiration chamber, a gas inlet conduit leading to the aspiration chamber, a gas outlet conduit leading from the aspiration chamber, a feed screw arranged to receive powdered material from the hopper and to feed it into said aspiration chamber for entrainment by the gas passing from said inlet conduit to said outlet conduit through the aspiration chamber, an electric motor operatively connected to said feed screw to rotate the same, a by-pass connecting said gas inlet conduit with said gas outlet conduit, valve means controlling the by-pass and operable to cause any desired proportion of the gas to pass through the aspiration chamber and entrain powdered material and the remainder to be diverted through the by-pass and mix with the powder-containing portion of the gas leaving the aspiration chamber, an electro-magnetically operated valve in said gas inlet conduit in advance of said by-pass, and switch means adapted to simultaneously energize said motor and the electro-magnetic operating means of said lastnamed valve to start said feed screw and at the same time turn on the gas supply to the aspiration chamber.

HOWARD G. HUGHEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 749,206 Limbert Jan. 12, 1904 2,123,537 Marl. July 12, 1938 2,327,337 Burch et al. Aug. 24, 1943 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,470,819. f May 24, 1949. HOWARD G. HUGEDY It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 5, line 1, claim 1, for the word as readan; line 3, same claim, for

, ispiration read aspiration; line 32, claim 2, after gas strike out in;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of October, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY, Agaz'atant Commissioner of Patents 

